Reds top Astros 6-4

Mike Leake goes to 2-0
Mike Leake has another quality start, and Reds starting pitchers have back to back victories for the first time since last September 28th and 29th. Leake worked seven innings allowing only one earned on five hits, while striking out five and walking two. His ERA goes down to 3.25, and last night you see a little bit about why he was compared to Greg Maddux in some of the pitches that he throws. A lot of tailing action on some 89-90 MPH fastballs on the outer half to RH hitters. The guy looks good, and at this point you don’t want to miss a Mike Leake start. People are going to start going ga-ga for this kid if he can continue this run of success. He throws a lot of strikes and works quickly. That’s what we like about him.
Three in a row
While some might feel like we’re beating up on a B-squad, this Houston team was 7-1 in their previous 8 games until we came to town. A win is a win. It’s officially a winning streak now and we need it to last as long as possible. So do whatever superstition you’ve done during this winning streak to make it possible. Don’t let down your guard because tonight we face Roy Oswalt, who is lifetime 23-1 against the Reds with a 2.58 ERA in 30 games started. He’s also amassed 165 strikeouts in 206 innings of work. That’s dominance.
Stubbs’ nubs
Drew Stubbs might be coming out of his slump. He added two hits from the leadoff spot and scored two runs while also making good contact in at least one other plate appearance. He also stole his 5th bag of the year.
Dentist Pence’s error
Hunter Pence butchered a root canal out in right field that allowed the Reds to empty the bases and build a 6-0 lead. This was a Brandon Phillips fly ball that Bourne lost track of, and it should have ended the inning. Scott Rolen and Joey Votto added run scoring extra-base hits for the only other Reds runs driven in.
Quick ballgame
This game was played in full in 2 hours, 32 minutes. If not for a shaky 9th inning that saw it necessary for Francisco Cordero to enter the game and lock down another win (non-save), it would have been just slightly over two hours. There wasn’t a lot of action in this game from innings one to nine.